RMweb Premium polybear Posted November 16, 2009 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 16, 2009 Hi all, Several years ago I had fun collecting as many LINKA moulds as possible, usually from swapmeets but did get lucky on the odd occasion from shops. The black plastic moulds were the really scarce ones to find. Out of interest, how many modellers actually use the moulds to make structures for their layouts? There are a couple of well known layouts I know about (e.g. Kingston Regis by John & Jane Jacobs, with Jane being responsible for the outstanding buildings; also another layout that's appeared in Model Rail a couple of times but at the moment cannot for the life of me remember the name of ) Anyone? Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold RedgateModels Posted November 16, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 16, 2009 blimey, I just sold a set including many black plastic moulds etc at Wycrail, never used it myself but as a schoolboy I had a pal who used it to make a station etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium eldavo Posted November 16, 2009 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 16, 2009 Got a few structures built from Linka on my trainset but I tend to use plasticard now. I'm too impatient to build up a stock of castings! Cheers Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted November 27, 2009 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 27, 2009 Thanks for the replies - obviously LINKA isn't used as much as I thought it might be... Incidentally, the layout that appeared in Model Rail that uses LINKA is Tetley's Mills. Here's a link to Kingston Regis, which shows what is possible using Linka: http://www.kingstonregis.com/kingston_photos.htm Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schubert Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 We used linka to build the retaining walls along the front of our current club layout, along with the buildings in the timber yard. not sure what we are going to do with the new layout though. Stockton Model Railway Club cheers Al Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Colin_McLeod Posted November 29, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 29, 2009 I used Linka in the early 1980s to build a low relief factory on my layout of hte time, and also a lock keepers cottage on my canal scene. It was fun at the time, but very time consuming. I sold my Linka some time ago on e bay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWMark Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 I used Link back in the very early 80's (when I was still at school) to build a few structures for the garden layout I had then. Still got the moulds, including the black plastic church spire, and some unused casting dating back to then. Maybe I should dig it out at look at using it to build the quayside on my challenge layout. Anybody know what can be used to substitute the original casting powder? Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcanbomber Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Try this site www.terrascenic.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Fisher Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Dental plaster will go off quickly and is firm once gone off. My work sell packs for work with children doing crafts. Ian Anybody know what can be used to substitute the original casting powder? Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spot Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Since our club became homeless, I have become the custodian of a large number of linka moulds (stone and brick). Reading through this I'm tempted to give it a go. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglian Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I used it as a schoolboy in the early 80's, even then I wasn't that keen on the finished product, although if I recall I found it great fun creating a builders yard of castings. One friend who had industrial quantities of the moulds spend several weeks making a huge number of castings that he never ever used??¦ madness! I found it very hard to hide the joins between sections even though I went to a lot of trouble filling between panels. Eventually I started making precise card dummies and gluing the sections onto these shells. I did make extensive retaining walls with Linka ??“ the archways were nice. I call still smell that plaster mix??¦ my set is in the loft somewhere. However as my skills improved I generally got better results with card and building papers and of course there was always Superquick which I loved making up. A trawl on ebay will throw up some options. A quick glance suggests old sets may be quite reasonable prices but new moulds and kits are, IMHO, expensive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted December 2, 2009 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2009 Blimey, that's a blast from the past. Like others here I used it in the early 80's but never really got on with it, probably down to inadequate skills. Most of my buildings fell apart, too fragile. I've no idea where my moulds went but I did have quite a collection. Might have to rummage through Dad's loft next time I'm down there! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R A Watson Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Some time ago, on a Plymouth Club layout, we used a large amount of Lnka based panels on a retaining wall and dock side. The method was to use the moulds, but with car body filler (to be found in fairly small cans or tubes close to the spray paints in Halfords etc). When nearly set peel the mould off and place the piece to one side to cure properly, if required the panel can be gently bent into a curve at this stage to allow a curved wall to be manufactured from several pieces. When everything is set stick the bits to the former as required to make the structure. At this point you will probably find that some tiles stand proud of the others; so visit your car accesory store again and buy some "wet and dry" paper, about 360 grit is best, and using it dry gently rub the surface until all is flush. This will also reduce the apparent depth of some mortar courses and the dust produced will fill the gaps between the tiles. Once you have applied a base colour wash the dust will be sealed in and the gaps dissapear. I have a few pictures somewhere and if I can locate them will attempt to display the here. Hope this helps someone. Wally Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard320 Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 I have a few pictures somewhere and if I can locate them will attempt to display the here. Hope this helps someone. Wally I would really like to see pictures of this technique! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgeloco Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Linka moulds - For what they are - they are bloody expensive! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewC Posted December 7, 2009 Share Posted December 7, 2009 Wow they have become expensive. $12 a mould!!!! That's over ??7 at today's rate. I got my original brick set in 83 and paid around ??10 for it. Then I picked up the super delux 18 mould set at Zodiac Toys for a fiver. Haven't used any of it in years but still have several tubs full of castings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziksby Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Wow they have become expensive. $12 a mould!!!! That's over ??7 at today's rate. I got my original brick set in 83 and paid around ??10 for it. Then I picked up the super delux 18 mould set at Zodiac Toys for a fiver. Haven't used any of it in years but still have several tubs full of castings. Was that Zodiac in Bexleyheath? You may like to take a look here http://zodiactoys.webs.com Might bring back a few memories ... and here's a pic of a Linka display I found in my files Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziksby Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Oops ... image didn't load above Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziksby Posted December 8, 2009 Share Posted December 8, 2009 Here's a better close-up. In case you're wondering, I was operations director for Zodiac 1979-86. Nothing else on railways I'm afraid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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